A Liberal
Dose
October 6,
2022
Troy D.
Smith
“What are
you for? What matters most to you?”
In the last few weeks, I have talked a lot on here about
the dangers of using fear to divide people (or to define yourself), the duties
of citizens to speak out bravely about issues rather than hiding their heads in
the sand, and the important point that protecting individual rights and
promoting the welfare of the community are not mutually exclusive.
These topics become more and more relevant the closer
we get to election day. I am reminded of something one of my conservative
friends (and I have a lot) said to me a little over a year ago, and which I
wrote about at the time. “What are you FOR?” he asked. “You’re always talking
about what you’re AGAINST, but what are you FOR?” I think that’s a very
important question for us all to be asking as midterms approach. Too much of
our time -all of us -is spent obsessing over how to stop the other person from
achieving what THEY’RE for, or making sure our person is against the same
things as us. Too many politicians stoke up voters’ fears to win elections –“vote
for me because the other person is crazy and dangerous” -and spend too little
time stirring up people’s HOPES. FDR was really good at building up people’s
hopes, and soothing their fears rather than increasing them. At making people
feel safe, instead of making them feel endangered. We need some of that today.
What are your politicians FOR? Find out. Find out,
even if they are not from your party of choice. Compare it to what you are for
and see how it lines up -again, regardless of party. And judge what they are
for by their actions, not just their words. And, while you’re at it, determine
whether they are trying to scare you into voting for them by telling you how dangerous
people around you are, instead of trying to persuade you to vote for them by
sharing their hopes with you, and by encouraging teamwork instead of enmity.
Remember that feeling we all had in the weeks after 9/11, that we were all on
the same side no matter our party? Let’s rekindle that.
Of course, to do that, you have to clearly know what
YOU are for. You probably think you already do… but put it to the test. I
challenge you: sit down with pen and paper, and list out all the things you are
FOR. Saying “I am FOR stopping the other side from doing such-and-such” doesn’t
count. That is an “against,” not a “for.” Write down things you believe in, and
positive things you want to see accomplished. Then put them in order of
importance, and see what the top five are -and see if the words and actions of
the politicians seeking your vote demonstrate they really share your values.
Here’s what I came up with for myself:
1. I
am for the protection of what Jefferson called “unalienable rights,”
fundamental and basic things listed in the Bill of Rights. Freedoms of
religion, speech, the press, and so on. This includes civil rights for
minorities.
2. I
am for “promoting the general welfare” by ensuring that every citizen’s basic
needs are met: health care, food, clean water, shelter.
3. I
am for addressing climate change in such a way as to prevent, or at least
minimize, catastrophic results for our grandchildren.
4. I
am for education- public, supported as much as possible by our tax funds on
every level, with politicians allowing the teachers to teach without
interference, and funding them to do so.
5. I
am for a social and economic system that ensures equality of opportunity. Not a
guarantee of equal success, but a guarantee of a fair playing field -what
(Republican) Teddy Roosevelt called a “Square Deal.”
How about you? What are you for?
--Troy D.
Smith, a White County native, is a novelist and a history professor at
Tennessee Tech. His words do not necessarily represent TTU.
You can find all previous entries in this weekly column HERE
A list of other historical essays that have appeared on this blog can be found HERE
Author's website: www.troyduanesmith.com
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